Way back before akra-Tory, the room had been sparsely decorated in black and brown. Now it was powder-puff blue with dancing circus animals on the walls and a canopied crib within easy reach of the large king bed. That was because of akri’s paranoia over the awful Apollites killing akri’s sister in Greece.
To this day, akri hadn’t gotten over it. And because he was terrified of losing baby Bas, akri never let Bas sleep alone. In fact, Bas had been almost a year old before akri had allowed him to sleep anywhere other than akri’s chest.
Which was funny but also made Simi very sad. It wasn’t until Bas was born that she realized exactly how paranoid her akri was, and it made her regret all the times in her life that she’d vanished and scared him.
Can you hear me?
Simi nodded at akri so that he’d know she could hear him while he spoke to her and Styxx with his thoughts.
Good. I think it best if we communicate like this for a while.
That made sense given that if they spoke the Atlantean gods might hear them.
Styxx went to the door and listened. Seth’s “bird” spirit that he normally wore as a tattoo on his chest had shown them that the gods were all gathered in the throne room, where they bragged about what they intended to do once they had her akri in their custody.
Simi would eat them all if they dared harm him. It infuriated her to listen to them. They were horrible gods, and Simi was glad that akri and Savitar had reconsidered sending Styxx in as his double.
Akri let out a sigh. They’ve sensed our powers.
Ready? Styxx asked.
Absolutely not.
Styxx rolled his eyes at akri’s humor.
Locking gazes, akri held his hand up in offering to Styxx.
Styxx took akri’s hand and let his brother teleport them into the throne room.
Once inside, Styxx let go of akri’s hand and took his position at his back. He faced Archon, Apollo, and Epithymia while Acheron faced the rest.
Archon rose to his feet. “Well, isn’t this unexpected?” He smirked at Apollo. “We don’t have to play chase, after all. How kind of them to save us time.” He glared at Styxx. “Which of you is Apostolos?”
“I am,” they said simultaneously.
Simi giggled.
Archon growled low in his throat.
“Their eyes,” Apollo said quickly. “Styxx’s are blue.”
Akri turned to stand beside his brother. When they spoke, it was as one. “Not anymore.”
Archon narrowed his gaze on them. “Then we’ll kill you both.”
“No,” Apollo snarled. “That wasn’t the agreement.”
Epithymia made a sound of supreme disgust. “Stand down, both of you. There’s an easy way to get to the truth.” She tugged at the black cord around her neck to show them a small crystal vial. She pulled it over her head and placed it on the arm of Archon’s chair, then manifested a hammer. “This is the heart of Bethany. If the real Styxx doesn’t step forward, I’ll destroy her. Forever.”
Simi gasped as she saw panic spread over Styxx’s face. But somehow, he caught himself. It was only a flash and then he was calm again.
“So, you don’t love her?” Epithymia hovered the hammer over the vial. “Really?”
“You do that, and you lose all leverage over both of us. Her life is the only thing keeping you alive right now.” That had to be Styxx, even though he sounded just like akri.
A light flashed in the room.
Simi expected Urian to show up.
